NPC 2022
-
@Stargazer first half ended pretty even. 12 all. Magpie backs capitalised on defensive turnovers. Tiatia looking to spark anything he can. Tucker very influential for Waikato.
Ratima's kicking a bit rusty but good elsewhere.
Both teams playing lots of super players. Saw Mcwhannell in young looking bench group. Magpies attacking flow may be too good in second half.Who is the Mooloo 10? And who is Zak in magpie backs?
-
-
@ARHS I'll post a few notes on the Waikato 2022 thread later. I recognised a few players in the 2nd half team but that seemed to be full of more U20 players.
HB took the soft option at the end kicking for goal, as there wasn't another penalty attempt all game.
Also, I don't think LCF played as he will be playing in the club final tomorrow. @Stargazer The Waikato fullback for the whole game was Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong. He scored a 2nd half try.
-
Liam Messam for Waikato and Marino Mikaele-Tu'u for the Bay. Don't know who the other Waikato player is.
More photos in this post from the same account.
For the Bay, I recognise at least Devan Flanders, Josh Gimblett, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Caleb Makene, Ollie Sapsford, Paraoian Manuel-Harman (I think), Chase Tiatia, Tom Parsons and maybe Lolani Faleiva.Waikato players I recognise or are tagged are Cortez Ratima, Ayden Johnstone, Hamilton Burr, Sefo Kautai, Laghlan McWhannell, Rhys Marshall, Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong, Taha Kemara, Cody Nordstrom, Travis Church, Austin Anderson, Sean Ralph.
-
@Stargazer said in NPC 2022:
Do you think Smiler-Ah Kiong has a chance of making the NPC team? Still very young.
It all depends on the makeup of the squad. In his favour Lansdown has retired due to injuries. I'm not sure about Waaka, who would be the other fullback option. Of course there is DMac and Tepaea Cook-Savage who can both play there too.
BTW, the Hawke's Bay pack in the 1st half included Rakete-Stones, Kereru-Symes, Parsons, MMT and D Flanders. The 9 and 10 were McLeod and Makene. I was focused more on the Waikato players so there could have been some other regulars too.
-
@Stargazer I'm surprised Raymond Tuputupu hasn't made this squad. Despite his age I feel like he's good enough for the NPC.
-
@Canes4life I know nothing about Keil-Schwenke but Strang is still only 20 himself.
-
@Stargazer said in NPC 2022:
I really hope they're not going for the North-South split. Provinces being in one pool with the same other provinces every year is boring. If they want two pools, split them based on table position at the end of the round robin of the previous year: 1, 3, 5 etc in one division pool, 2, 4, 6 etc in the other.
I'd also like to see an equivalent to the Lochore Cup in the Heartland comp, so that the provinces that will realistically never make the Cup semi-finals, still have a piece of silverware to play for. Or make it Cup, Plate & Bowl, like in sevens.
Yes brilliant, Lochore and meads cup style split sounds good, if it could be made to work.